REPUBLIC ACT NO.

8042
Migrant Workers and Overseas
Filipinos Act of 1995
An act to institute the policies of overseas employment and establish a higher standard of
protection and promotion of the welfare of migrant workers, their families and overseas Filipinos
in distress, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE. - This act shall be known and cited as the "Migrant Workers and
Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995."

SEC. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICIES--

(a) In the pursuit of an independent foreign policy and while considering national
sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest and the right to self-determination paramount in
its relations with other states, the State shall, at all times, uphold the dignity of its citizens whether
in country or overseas, in general, and Filipino migrant workers, in particular.

(b) The State shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and
unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all.
Towards this end, the State shall provide adequate and timely social, economic and legal services
to Filipino migrant workers.

(c) While recognizing the significant contribution of Filipino migrant workers to the
national economy through their foreign exchange remittances, the State does not promote
overseas employment as a means to sustain economic growth and achieve national development.
The existence of the overseas employment program rests solely on the assurance that the dignity
and fundamental human rights and freedoms of the Filipino citizens shall not, at any time, be
compromised or violated. The State, therefore, shall continuously create local employment
opportunities and promote the equitable distribution of wealth and the benefits of development.

(d) The State affirms the fundamental equality before the law of women and men and the
significant role of women in nation-building. Recognizing the contribution of overseas migrant
women workers and their particular vulnerabilities, the State shall apply gender sensitive criteria
in the formulation and implementation of policies and programs affecting migrant workers and the
composition of bodies tasked for the welfare of migrant workers.

(e) Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance
shall not be denied to any persons by reason of poverty. In this regard, it is imperative that an
effective mechanism be instituted to ensure that the rights and interest of distressed overseas
Filipinos, in general, and Filipino migrant workers, in particular, documented or undocumented,
are adequately protected and safeguarded.

(f) The right of Filipino migrant workers and all overseas Filipinos to participate in the
democratic decision-making processes of the State and to be represented in institutions relevant
to overseas employment is recognized and guaranteed.

(g) The State recognizes that the ultimate protection to all migrant workers is the
possession of skills. Pursuant to this and as soon as practicable, the government shall deploy
and/or allow the deployment only to skilled Filipino workers.

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 (h) Non-governmental organizations, duly recognized as legitimate, are partners of the
State in the protection of Filipino migrant workers and in the promotion of their welfare, the State
shall cooperate with them in a spirit of trust and mutual respect.

(I) Government fees and other administrative costs of recruitment, introduction,

placement and assistance to migrant workers shall be rendered free without prejudice to the
provision of Section 36 hereof.

Nonetheless, the deployment of Filipino overseas workers, whether land-based or sea-

based by local service contractors and manning agencies employing them shall be encouraged.
Appropriate incentives may be extended to them.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. - For purposes of this Act:

(a) "Migrant worker" refers to a person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been
engaged in a renumerated activity in a state of which he or she is not a legal resident to be used
interchangeably with overseas Filipino worker.

(b) "Gender-sensitivity" shall mean cognizance of the inequalities and inequities

prevalent in society between women and men and a commitment to address issues with concern
for the respective interests of the sexes.

(c) "Overseas Filipinos" refers to dependents of migrant workers and other Filipino
nationals abroad who are in distress as mentioned in Sections 24 and 26 of this Act.

I. DEPLOYMENT

SEC. 4. Deployment of Migrant Workers - The State shall deploy overseas Filipino
workers only in countries where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected. The
government recognizes any of the following as guarantee on the part of the receiving country for
the protection and the rights of overseas Filipino workers:

(a) It has existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of migrant workers;

(b) It is a signatory to multilateral conventions, declaration or resolutions relating to the

protection of migrant workers;

(c) It has concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement with the government

protecting the rights of overseas Filipino workers; and

(d) It is taking positive, concrete measures to protect the rights of migrant workers.

SEC. 5. TERMINATION OR BAN ON DEPLOYMENT - Notwithstanding the provisions of

Section 4 hereof, the government, in pursuit of the national interest or when public welfare so
requires, may, at any time, terminate or impose a ban on the deployment of migrant workers.

II. ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT

Sec. 6. DEFINITIONS. - For purposes of this Act, illegal recruitment shall mean any act
of canvassing, enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring, procuring workers and includes
referring, contact services, promising or advertising for employment abroad, whether for profit or
not, when undertaken by a non-license or non-holder of authority contemplated under Article 13(f)
of Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the
Philippines. Provided, that such non-license or non-holder, who, in any manner, offers or
promises for a fee employment abroad to two or more persons shall be deemed so engaged. It
shall likewise include the following acts, whether committed by any persons, whether a non-
licensee, non-holder, licensee or holder of authority.

(a) To charge or accept directly or indirectly any amount greater than the specified in the
schedule of allowable fees prescribed by the Secretary of Labor and Employment, or to make a
worker pay any amount greater than that actually received by him as a loan or advance;

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 (b) To furnish or publish any false notice or information or document in relation to
recruitment or employment;

(c) To give any false notice, testimony, information or document or commit any act of
misrepresentation for the purpose of securing a license or authority under the Labor Code;

(d) To induce or attempt to induce a worker already employed to quit his employment in
order to offer him another unless the transfer is designed to liberate a worker from oppressive
terms and conditions of employment;

(e) To influence or attempt to influence any persons or entity not to employ any worker
who has not applied for employment through his agency;

(f) To engage in the recruitment of placement of workers in jobs harmful to public health
or morality or to dignity of the Republic of the Philippines;

(g) To obstruct or attempt to obstruct inspection by the Secretary of Labor and

Employment or by his duly authorized representative;

(h) To fail to submit reports on the status of employment, placement vacancies,

remittances of foreign exchange earnings, separations from jobs, departures and such other
matters or information as may be required by the Secretary of Labor and Employment;

(i) To substitute or alter to the prejudice of the worker, employment contracts approved
and verified by the Department of Labor and Employment from the time of actual signing thereof
by the parties up to and including the period of the expiration of the same without the approval of
the Department of Labor and Employment;

(j) For an officer or agent of a recruitment or placement agency to become an officer or

member of the Board of any corporation engaged in travel agency or to be engaged directly on
indirectly in the management of a travel agency;

(k) To withhold or deny travel documents from applicant workers before departure for
monetary or financial considerations other than those authorized under the Labor Code and its
implementing rules and regulations;

(l) Failure to actually deploy without valid reasons as determined by the Department of
Labor and Employment; and

(m) Failure to reimburse expenses incurred by the workers in connection with his
documentation and processing for purposes of deployment, in cases where the deployment does
not actually take place without the worker's fault. Illegal recruitment when committed by a
syndicate or in large scale shall be considered as offense involving economic sabotage.

Illegal recruitment is deemed committed by a syndicate carried out by a group of three

(3) or more persons conspiring or confederating with one another. It is deemed committed in large
scale if committed against three (3) or more persons individually or as a group.

The persons criminally liable for the above offenses are the principals, accomplices and
accessories. In case of juridical persons, the officers having control, management or direction of
their business shall be liable.

SEC. 7. PENALTIES -

(a) Any person found guilty of illegal recruitment shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment
of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day but not more than twelve (12) years and a fine not
less than two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) nor more than five hundred thousand pesos
(P500,000.00).

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 (b) The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of not less than five hundred thousand
pesos (P500,000.00) nor more than one million pesos (P1,000,000.00) shall be imposed if illegal
recruitment constitutes economic sabotage as defined herein.

Provided, however, that the maximum penalty shall be imposed if the person illegally
recruited is less than eighteen (18) years of age or committed by a non-licensee or non-holder of
authority.

SEC. 8. PROHIBITION ON OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES. - Ot shall be unlawful for

any official or employee of the Department of Labor and Employment, the Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration, or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, or the Department
of Foreign Affairs, or other government agencies involved in the implementation of this Act, or
their relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, to engage, directly or
indirectly, in the business of recruiting migrant workers as defined in this Act. The penalties shall
be imposed upon them.

SEC. 9. VENUE. - A criminal action arising from illegal recruitment as defined herein
shall be filed with the Regional Trial Court of the province or city where the offense was
committed or where the offended party actually resides at the same time of the commission of the
offense: Provided, That the court where the criminal action is first filed shall acquire jurisdiction to
the exclusion of other courts. Provided, however, That the aforestated provisions shall also apply
to those criminal actions that have already been filed in court at the time of the effectivity of this
Act.

SEC. 10. MONEY CLAIMS. - Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the
Labor Arbiters of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) shall have the original and
exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide, within ninety (90) calendar days after filing of the
complaint, the claims arising out of an employer-employee relationship or by virtue of any law or
contract involving Filipino workers for overseas deployment including claims for actual, moral,
exemplary and other forms of damages.

The liability of the principal/employer and the recruitment/placement agency for any and
all claims under this section shall be joint and several. This provisions shall be incorporated in the
contract for overseas employment and shall be a condition precedent for its approval. The
performance bond to be filed by the recruitment/placement agency, as provided by law, shall be
answerable for all money claims or damages that may be awarded to the workers. If the
recruitment/placement agency is a juridical being, the corporate officers and directors and
partners as the case may be, shall themselves be jointly and solidarily liable with the corporation
or partnership for the aforesaid claims and damages.

Such liabilities shall continue during the entire period or duration of the employment
contract and shall not be affected by any substitution, amendment or modification made locally or
in a foreign country of the said contract.

Any compromise/amicable settlement or voluntary agreement on money claims inclusive

of damages under this section shall be paid within four (4) months from the approval of the
settlement by the appropriate authority.

In case of termination of overseas employment without just, valid or authorized cause as

defined by law or contract, the workers shall be entitled to the full reimbursement of his placement
fee with interest of twelve percent (12%) per annum, plus his salaries for the unexpired portion of
his employment contract or for three (3) months for every year of the unexpired term, whichever is
less.

Non-compliance with the mandatory periods for resolutions of cases provided under this
section shall subject the responsible officials to any or all of the following penalties:

(a) The salary of any such official who fails to render his decision or resolutions within
the prescribed period shall be, or caused to be, withheld until the said official complies therewith;

(b) Suspension for not more than ninety (90) days; or

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 (c) Dismissal from the service with disqualifications to hold any appointive public office
for five (5) years.

Provided, however, that the penalties herein provided shall be without prejudice to any
liability which any such official may have incurred under other existing laws or rules and
regulations as a consequence of violating the provisions of this paragraph.

SEC. 11. MANADATORY PERIODS FOR RESOLUTION OF ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT

CASES. - The preliminary investigations of cases under this Act shall be terminated within a
period of thirty (30) calendar days from the date of their filing. Where the preliminary investigation
is conducted by a prosecution officer and a prima facie case is established, the corresponding
information shall be filed in court within twenty-four (24) hours from the termination of the
investigation. If the preliminary investigation is conducted by a judge and a prima facie case is
found to exist, prosecution officer within forty-eight (48) hours from the date of receipt of the
records of the case.

SEC. 12. PRESCRIPTIVE PERIODS. - Illegal recruitment cases under this Act shall
prescribe in five (5) years: Provided, however, That illegal recruitment cases involving economic
sabotage as defined herein shall prescribe in twenty (20) years.

SEC. 13. FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE, PREFERENTIAL ENTITLEMENT UNDER THE

WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM. - A mechanism for free legal assistance for victims of
illegal recruitment shall be established within the Department of Labor and Employment including
its regional offices. Such mechanism must include coordination and cooperation with the
Department of Justice, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and other non-governmental
organizations and volunteer groups.

The provisions of Republic Act No. 6981 to the contrary, notwithstanding, any person
who is a victim of illegal recruitment shall be entitled to the Witness Protection Program provided
thereunder.

III. SERVICES

SEC. 14. TRAVEL ADVISORY/INFORMATION DISSEMINATION. - To give utmost

priority to the establishment of programs and services to prevent illegal recruitment, fraud, and
exploitation or abuse of Filipino migrant workers, all embassies and consular offices, through the
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), shall issue travel advisories or
disseminate information on labor and employment conditions, migration realities and other facts;
and adherence of particular countries to international standards on human and workers' rights
which will adequately prepare individuals into making informed and intelligent decisions about
overseas employment. Such advisory or information shall be published in a newspaper of general
circulation at least three (3) times in every quarter.

SEC. 15. REPATRIATION OF WORKERS; EMERGENCY REPATRIATION FUND. - The

repatriation of the worker and the transport of his personal belongings shall be the primary
responsibility of the agency which recruited or deployed the worker overseas. All costs attendant
to repatriation shall be borne by or charged to the agency concerned and/or its principal. Likewise,
the repatriation of remains and transport of the personal belongings of a deceased worker and all
costs attendant thereto shall be borne by the principal and/or local agency. However, in cases
where the termination of employment is due solely to the fault of the worker, the
principal/employer or agency shall not in any manner be responsible for the repatriation of the
former and/or his belongings.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), in coordination ith appropriate

international agencies, shall undertake the repatriation of workers in cases of war, epidemic,
disasters or calamities, natural or man-made, and other similar events without prejudice to
reimbursement by the responsible principal or agency. However, in cases where the principal or
recruitment agency cannot be identified, all costs attendant to repatriation shall be borne by the
OWWA.

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 For this purposes, there is hereby created and established an emergency repatriation
fund under the administration control and supervision of the OWWA, initially to consist of one
hundred million pesos (P100,000,000.00), inclusive of outstanding balances.

SEC. 16. MANDATORY REPATRIATION OF UNDERAGE MIGRANT WORKERS. -

Upon discovery or being informed of the presence of migrant workers whose actual ages fall
below the minimum age requirement for overseas deployment, the responsible officers in the
foreign service shall without delay repatriate said workers and advise the Department of Foreign
Affairs through the fastest means of communication available of such discovery and other
relevant information.

SEC. 17. ESTABLISHMENT OF RE-PLACEMENT AND MONITORING CENTER. - A

replacement and monitoring center is hereby created in the Department of Labor and Employment
for returning Filipino migrant workers which shall provide a mechanism for their reintegration into
the Philippine society, serve as a promotion house for their local employment, and tap their skills
and potentials for national development.

The Department of Labor and Employment, the Overseas Workers Welfare

Administration, and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration shall, within ninety (90)
days from the effectivity of this Act, formulate a program that would motivate migrant workers to
plan for productive options such as entry into highly technical jobs or undertakings, livelihood and
entrepreneurial development, better wage employment, and investment of savings.

For this purpose, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),
the Technology Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC), and other government agencies involved in
training and livelihood development shall give priority to return who had been employed as
domestic helpers and entertainers.

SEC. 18. FUNCTIONS OF THE RE-PLACEMENT AND MONITORING CENTER. - The

center shall provide the following service:

(a) Develop livelihood programs and projects for returning Filipino migrant workers in
coordination with the private sector;

(b) Coordinate with appropriate private and government agencies the promotion,
development, re-placement and the full utilization of their potentials;

(c) Institute in cooperation with other government agencies concerned, a computer-

based information system on skilled Filipino migrant workers which shall be accessible to all local
recruitment agencies and employers, both public and private;

(d) Provide a periodic study and assessment of job opportunities for returning Filipino
migrant workers.

SEC. 19. ESTABLISHMENT OF A MIGRANT WORKERS AND OTHER OVERSEAS

FILIPINOS RESOURCE CENTER. - Within the premises and under the administrative jurisdiction
of the Philippine Embassy in countries where there are large concentrations of Filipino migrant
workers, there shall be establish a Migrant Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos Resource
Center with the following services:

(a) Counseling and legal services;

(b) Welfare assistance including the procurement of medical and hospitalization

services;

(c) Information, advisory and programs to promote social integration such as post-arrival
orientation, settlement and community networking services for social integration;

(d) Institute a scheme of registration of undocumented workers to bring them within the
purview of this Act. For this purpose, the Center is enjoined to compel existing undocumented

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workers to register with it within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, under pain of
having his/her passport cancelled;

(e) Human resource development, such as training and skills upgrading;

(f) Gender sensitive programs and activities to assist particular needs of women migrant
workers;

(g) Orientation program for returning workers and other migrants; and

(h) Monitoring of daily situations, circumstances and activities affecting migrant workers
and other overseas Filipinos.

The establishment and operations of the Center shall be a joint undertaking of the
various government agencies. The Center shall be open for twenty-four (24) hours daily, including
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and shall be staffed by Foreign Service personnel, service
attaches or officers who represent other organizations from the host countries. In countries
categorized as highly problematic by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of
Labor and Employment and where there is a concentration of Filipino migrant workers, the
government must provide a lawyer and a social worker for the Center. The Labor Attache shall
coordinate the operation of the Center and shall keep the Chief of Mission informed and updated
on all matters affecting it.

The Center shall have a counterpart 24-hour information and assistance center at the
Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a continuous network and coordinative mechanism at the
home office.

SEC. 20. ESTABLISHMENT OF A SHARED GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

FOR MIGRATION. - An inter-agency committee composed of the Department of Foreign Affairs
and its attached agency, the Commission on Filipino Overseas, the Department of Labor and
Employment, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, The Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration, The Department of Tourism, the Department of Justice, the Bureau of
Immigration, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the National Statistics Office shall be
established to implement a shared government information system for migration. The inter-
agency committee shall initially make available to itself the information contained in existing data
bases/files. The second phase shall involve linkaging of computer facilities in order to allow free-
flow data exchanges and sharing among concerned agencies.

The inter-agency committee shall convene to identify existing data bases which shall be
declassified and shared among member agencies. These shared data bases shall initially include,
but not limited to, the following information:

(a) Masterlists of departing/arriving Filipinos;

(b) Inventory of pending legal cases involving Filipino migrant workers and other Filipino
nationals, including those serving prison terms;

(c) Masterlists of departing/arriving Filipinos;

(d) Statistical profile on Filipino migrant workers/overseas Filipinos/Tourists;

(e) Blacklisted foreigners/undesirable aliens;

(f) Basic data on legal systems, immigration policies, marriage laws and civil and
criminal
codes in receiving countries particularly those with the large numbers of Filipinos;

(g) List of labor and other human rights instruments where receiving countries are
signatories;

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 (h) A tracking system of past and present gender disaggregated cases involving male
and
female migrant workers; and

(i) Listing of overseas posts which may render assistance to overseas Filipinos, in
general, and migrant workers, in particular.

SEC. 21. MIGRANT WORKERS LOAN GUARANTEE FUND. - In order to further prevent
unscrupulous illegal recruiters from taking advantage of workers seeking employment abroad, the
OWWA, in coordination with government financial institutions, shall institute financing schemes
that will expand the grant of pre-departure loan and family assistance loan. For this purpose, a
Migrant Workers Loan Guarantee Fund is hereby created and the revolving amount of one
hundred million pesos (P100,000,000.00) from the OWWA is set aside as a guarantee fund in
favor of participating government financial institutions.

SEC. 22. RIGHTS AND ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM UNDER INTERNATIONAL AND

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEMS. - The Department of Foreign Affairs is mandated to
undertake the necessary initiative such as promotions, acceptance or adherence of countries
receiving Filipino workers to multilateral convention, declaration or resolutions pertaining to the
protection of migrant workers' rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs is also mandated to make
an assessment of rights and avenues of redress under international and regional human rights
systems that are available to Filipino migrant workers who are victims of abuse and violation and,
as far as practicable and through the Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers Affairs created under
this Act, pursue the same on behalf of the victim if it is legally impossible to file individual
complaints. If a complaints machinery is available under international or regional systems, the
Department of Foreign Affairs shall fully apprise the Filipino migrant workers of the existence and
effectiveness of such legal options.

IV. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

SEC. 23. ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. - The following government agencies

shall perform the following to promote the welfare and protect the rights of migrant workers and,
as far as applicable, all overseas Filipinos:

(a) Department of Foreign Affairs. - The Department, through its home office or foreign
posts, shall take priority action its home office or foreign posts, shall take priority action or make
representation with the foreign authority concerned to protect the rights of migrant workers and
other overseas Filipinos and extend immediate assistance including the repatriation of distressed
or beleaguered migrant workers and other overseas Filipinos;

(b) Department of Labor and Employment - The Department of Labor and Employment
shall see to it that labor and social welfare laws in the foreign countries are fairly applied to
migrant workers and whenever applicable, to other overseas Filipinos including the grant of legal
assistance and the referral to proper medical centers or hospitals:

(b.1) Philippine Overseas Employment Administration - Subject to deregulation and

phase out as provided under Sections 29 and 30 herein, the Administration shall regulate private
sector participation in the recruitment and overseas placement of workers by setting up a
licensing and registration system. It shall also formulate and implement, in coordination with
appropriate entities concerned, when necessary employment of Filipino workers taking into
consideration their welfare and the domestic manpower requirements.

(b.2) Overseas Workers Welfare Administration - The Welfare Officer or in his absence,
the coordinating officer shall provide the Filipino migrant worker and his family all the assistance
they may need in the enforcement of contractual obligations by agencies or entities and/or by
their principals. In the performance of this functions, he shall make representation and may call
on the agencies or entities concerned to conferences or conciliation meetings for the purpose of
settling the complaints or problems brought to his attention.

V. THE LEGAL ASSISTANT FOR MIGRANT WORKERS AFFAIRS

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 SEC. 24. LEGAL ASSISTANT FOR MIGRANT WORKERS AFFAIRS. - There is hereby
created the position of Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers Affairs under the Department of
Foreign Affairs who shall be primarily responsible for the provision and overall coordination of all
legal assistance services to be provided to Filipino migrant workers as well as overseas Filipinos
in distress. He shall have the rank, salary and privileges equal to that of an undersecretary of said
Department.

The said Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers Affairs shall be appointed by the President
and must be of proven competence in the field of law with at least ten (10) years of experience as
a legal practitioner and must not have been a candidate to an elective office in the last local or
national elections.

Among the functions and responsibilities of the aforesaid Legal Assistant are:

(a) To issue the guidelines, procedures and criteria for the provisions of legal assistance
services to Filipino migrant workers;

(b) To establish close linkages with the Department of Labor and Employment, the
POEA, the OWWA and other government agencies concerned, as well as with non-governmental
organizations assisting migrant workers, to ensure effective coordination and cooperation in the
provision of legal assistance to migrant workers;

(c) To tap the assistance of reputable law firms and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
and other bar associations to complement the government's efforts to provide legal assistance to
migrant workers;

(d) To administer the legal assistance fund for migrant workers established under
Section 25 hereof and to authorize disbursements there from in accordance with the purposes for
which the fund was set up; and

(e) To keep and maintain the information system as provided in Section 20.

The legal Assistant for Migrant Workers Affairs shall have authority to hire private
lawyers, domestic or foreign, in order to assist him in the effective discharge of the above
functions.

SEC. 25. LEGAL ASSISTANCEW FUND - There is hereby established a legal assistance
fund for migrant workers, herein after referred to as Legal Assistance fund, in the amount of One
hundred million pesos (P100,000,000.00) to be constituted from the following sources:

Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) from the Contingency Fund of the President;
Thirty million pesos (P30,000,000.00) from the Presidential Social Fund; and
Twenty million pesos (P20,000,000.00) from the Welfare Fund for Overseas Workers
established under Letter of Instruction No. 537, as amended by Presidential Decree Nos. 1694
and 1809.

Any balances of existing fund which have been set aside by the government specifically
as legal assistance or defense fund to help migrant workers shall, upon effectivity of this Act, to
be turned over to, and form part of, the Fund created under this Act.

SEC. 26. USES OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND. - The Legal Assistance Fund
created under the preceding section shall be used exclusively to provide legal services to migrant
workers and overseas Filipinos in distress in accordance witht the guidelines, criteria and
procedures promulgated in accordance with Section 24 (a) hereof. The expenditures to be
charged against the Fund shall include the fees for the foreign lawyers to be hired by the Legal
Assistance for Migrant Workers Affairs to represent migrant workers facing charges abroad, bail
bonds to secure the temporary release of workers under detention, court fees and charges and
other litigation expenses.

VI. COUNTRY - TEAM APPROACH

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 SEC. 27. PRIORITY CONCERNS OF PHILIPPINE FOREIGN SERVICE POSTS. - The
country team approach, as enunciated under Executive Order No. 74, series of 1993, shall be the
mode under which Philippine embassies or their personnel will operate in the protection of the
Filipino migrant workers as well as in the promotion of their welfare. The protection of the Filipino
migrant workers and the promotion of their welfare, in particular, and the protection of the dignity
and fundamental rights and freedoms of the Filipino citizen abroad, in general, shall be the
highest priority concerns of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Foreign Service
Posts.

SEC. 28. COUNTRY-TEAM APPROACH. - Under the country-team approach, all

officers, representatives and personnel of the Philippine government posted abroad regardless of
their mother agencies shall, on a per country basis, act as one country-team with a mission under
the leadership of the ambassador. In this regard, the ambassador may recommend to the
Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs the recall of officers, representatives and personnel
of the Philippine government posted abroad for acts inimical to the national interest such as, but
not limited to, failure to provide the necessary services to protect the rights of overseas Filipinos.

Upon receipt of the recommendation of the ambassador, the Secretary of the

Department of Foreign Affairs shall, in the case of officers, representatives and personnel of other
departments, endorse such recommendation to the department secretary concerned for
appropriate action. Pending investigation by an appropriate body in the Philippines, the person
recommended for recall may be placed under preventive suspension by the ambassador.

In host countries where there are Philippine consulates, such consulates shall also
constitute part of the country-team under the leadership of the ambassador.

In the implementation of the country-team approach, visiting Philippine delegations shall

be provided full support and information.

VII. DEREGULATION AND PHASE-OUT

SEC. 29. COMPREHENSIVE DEREGULATION PLAN ON RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES.

- Pursuant to a progressive policy of deregulation whereby the migration of workers becomes
strictly a matter between the worker and his foreign employer, the DOLE within one (1) year from
the effectivity of this Act, is hereby mandated to formulate a five-year comprehensive deregulation
plan on recruitment activities taking into account labor market trends, economic conditions of the
country and emergency circumstances which may affect the welfare of migrant workers.

SEC. 30. GRADUAL PHASE-OUT OF REGULATORY FUNCTIONS. - Within a period of

five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE shall phase out the regulatory functions of
the POEA pursuant to the objectives of deregulation.

VII. PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER HIGHLY-SKILLED FILIPINOS ABROAD

SEC. 31. INCENTIVES TO PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER HIGHLY-SKILLED

FILIPINOS ABROAD. - Pursuant to the objective of encouraging professionals and other highly-
skilled Filipinos abroad especially in the field of science and technology to participate in, and
contribute to national development, the government shall provide proper and adequate incentives
and programs so as to secure their services in priority development areas of the public and
private sectors.

IX. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 32. POEA AND OWWA BOARD; ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIPS. - Notwithstanding

any provision of law to the contrary, the respective Boards of the POEA and the OWWA shall, in
addition to their present composition, have three (3) members each who shall come from the
women, sea-based and land-based sectors, respectively, to be appointed by the President in the
same manner as the other members.

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 SEC. 33. REPORT TO CONGRESS. - In order to inform the Philippine Congress on the
implementation of the policy enunciated in Section 4 hereof, the Department of Foreign Affairs
and the Department of Labor and Employment shall submit to the said body a semi-annual report
of Philippine foreign posts located in countries hosting Filipino migrant workers. The report shall
not be limited to the following information:

(a) Masterlist of Filipino migrant workers, and inventory of pending cases involving them
and other Filipino nationals including those serving prison terms;

(b) Working conditions of Filipino migrant workers;

(c) Problems encountered by the migrant workers, specifically violations of their rights;

(d) Initiative/actions taken by the Philippine foreign posts to address the problems of
Filipino migrant workers;

(e) Changes in the laws and policies of host countries; and

(f) Status of negotiations on bilateral labor agreements between the Philippines and the
host country.

Any officer of the government who fails to report as stated in the preceding section shall
be subjected to administrative penalty.

SEC. 34. REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS. - Pursuant to Section 3(2), Article VI of

the Constitution and in line with the objective of empowering overseas Filipinos to participate in
the policy-making process to address Filipino migrant concerns, two (2) sectoral representatives
for migrant workers in the House of Representatives shall be appointed by the President from the
ranks of migrant workers: Provided, that at least one (1) of the two (2) sectoral representatives
shall come from the women migrant workers sector: Provided, further, that all nominees must
have at least two (2) years experience as a migrant worker.

SEC. 35. EXEMPTION FROM TRAVEL TAX AND AIRPORT FEE. - All laws to the
country notwithstanding, the migrant worker shall be exempt from the payment of travel tax and
airport fee upon proper showing of proof of entitlement by the POEA.

SEC. 36. NON-INCREASE OF FEES; ABOLITION OF REPATRIATION BOND. - Upon

approval of this Act, all fees being charged by any government office on migrant workers shall
remain at their present levels and the repatriation bond shall be established.

SEC. 37. THE CONGRESSIONAL MIGRANT WORKERS SCHOLARSHIP FUND. -

There is hereby created a Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Fund which shall benefit
deserving migrant workers and/or their immediate descendants below twenty-one (21) years of
age who intent to pursue courses or training primarily in the field of science and technology. The
initial seed fund of two hundred million pesos (P200,000,000.00) shall be constituted from the
following sources:

(a) Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) from the unexpected Countrywide Development
Fund for 1995 in equal sharing by all members of Congress; and

(b) The remaining one hundred fifty million pesos (P150,000,000.00) shall be funded
from the proceeds of Lotto.

The Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Fund as herein created shall be

administered by the DOLE in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST). To carry out the objectives of this section, the DOLE and the DOST shall formulate the
necessary rules and regulations.

SEC. 38. APPROPRIATION AND OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING. - The amount

necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be provided for in the General
Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

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 SEC. 39. MIGRANT WORKERS DAY. - The day of signing by the President of this Act
shall be designated as the Migrant Workers Day and shall henceforth be commemorated as such
annually.

SEC. 40. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. - The departments and

agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act shall, within ninety (90) days after
the effectivity of this Act, formulate the necessary rules and regulations for its effective
implementation.

SEC. 41. REPEATING CLAUSE. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 42. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this
Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected
thereby.

SEC. 43. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation whichever comes earlier.

Approved,

EDGARDO J. ANGARA JOSE DE VENECIA, JR.

Senate House of representatives

This act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 14314 and Senate Bill No. 2077 was
finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on June 5, 1995 and June 3,
1995, respectively.

EDGARDO E. TUMANGAN CAMILO L. SABIO

Secretary of the Senate Secretary General
House of Representatives

Approved: June 7, 1995

FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

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